Results 6,401-6,420 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am aware of the recent decline in consumer sentiment as measured by the Consumer Sentiment Index, which is prepared by the ESRI in conjunction with a commercial bank. The Consumer Sentiment Index aggregates consumer views on present economic conditions and their perception of prospects over the next 12 months. This year the economic environment has become more challenging. There are a...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 108 together. On Budget day, my Department projected that unemployment, based on the classification used in the CSO Quarterly National Household Survey, would average 5.6 per cent for this year, a pick-up of 1 per cent compared to the 4.6 per cent average unemployment achieved in 2007. While employment would continue to rise — an increase of 1.1...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The NDP will be subject to a comprehensive mid-term review in 2010 in respect of the first three years' implementation from 2007 to 2009. Any possibilities for reprioritisation of investment that arise from the review will be considered at that juncture. In the meantime, priorities for Exchequer investment will be considered in the annual estimates process in the normal way.

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have no list of projects that may or may not be subject to the risk referred to in the question. Individual Ministers are responsible for the projects in their area and apart from the one recent case in the media, I have not been notified of any concerns in this regard.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: With regard to the fees that apply under the Freedom of Information Act, I am aware of the OECD's recommendation and I do not agree that the fees for FOI requests are a disincentive to greater openness. The application fee of €15 was first introduced in 2003 and has not been increased since then. FOI requests for non-personal information, to which a fee applies, have gone down from 7,216 in...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, generally speaking, the direct yield of taxation to the Exchequer on the sale of new houses relates to VAT which is charged at the reduced VAT rate of 13.5%. According to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government statistics, the average price of a new home in 2007 was €322,634. The amount of VAT included in that price...

Written Answers — Pay Awards: Pay Awards (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Following a decision by the Government on the implementation of recommendations in Report No. 38 of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector, schemes of performance-related awards were introduced for the levels of Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary in the civil service, the Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner ranks in the Garda SÍochána and the ranks of...

Written Answers — Revenue Investigations: Revenue Investigations (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Under recently introduced regulations certain financial institutions (Banks, Building Societies and the Post Office Savings Bank) are required to submit to Revenue details of interest earned on accounts where that interest exceeded €635. For the years 2005 and 2006 the information will be submitted to Revenue by the 15th September 2008, and for the year 2007 by the 31st October 2008. In...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the amounts of tax revenue collected from Mineral Oil Tax and VAT on these products for the years 2004 to 2007 and the first four months of 2008 are as follows: Mineral Oil Tax 2004 2005 2006 2007 Prov 2008 â'¬m â'¬m â'¬m â'¬m â'¬m Petrol 970.7 1,001.9 1,026.4 1,051.3 382.4 Auto Diesel 870.7 920.5 1,016.7 1,075.8 392.6 Marked...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Public Appointments Service (PAS) will decentralise one hundred (100) posts to Youghal. Arrangements are proceeding in accordance with their Decentralisation Implementation Plan. In accordance with the indicative timescale set out in the Decentralisation Implementation Group's Report to Government in July 2007 the PAS is working towards decentralisation to Youghal in the 3rd quarter of...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I should first explain that policy responsibility for market abuse legislation is a matter for my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It is important to emphasise that the statutory framework for financial regulation in Ireland is largely shaped by a detailed and comprehensive EU template, which applies across the Union. The Irish financial services...

Written Answers — Credit Union Regulation: Credit Union Regulation (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As Minister for Finance, my role is to ensure that the legal framework for credit unions is appropriate for the effective operation and supervision of credit unions. The Registrar of Credit Unions is responsible for administering the system of regulation and supervision of credit unions provided under the Credit Union Act, 1997 with a view to the protection by each credit union of the funds...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The main source of short-term trends on consumer spending is the monthly retail sales data series, published by the CSO. The latest data relate to the first quarter of 2008, and show a year-on-year inflation-adjusted decrease of -0.2 per cent in retail spending on the corresponding period last year. Excluding car sales, retail sales rose by 2.1 per cent in the first quarter. It is clear that...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I should first explain that legislative and policy responsibility for data protection is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Also, enforcement of data protection legislation is the responsibility of the Data Protection Commissioner. As Minister for Finance, I have, therefore, no statutory function in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy in...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: A person is regarded as resident in the State for tax purposes in a tax year if he or she spends: (a) 183 days in the State in that year, or (b) 280 days in aggregate in that tax year and the preceding tax year. An individual who is present in the State for 30 days or less in a tax year will not be treated as resident for that year unless he or she elects to be resident. Also, a day will...

Written Answers — Departmental Estimates: Departmental Estimates (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The 2008 spending plans were set out in detail in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2008 which were published on 21 February 2008. The Estimates provide for total gross expenditure of just under €62 billion made up of approximately €53 billion current expenditure and €9 billion capital expenditure. These are the settled spending allocations with which all Government Departments...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Local Authorities are multi-purpose bodies responsible for an extensive range of services. The annual budget of local authorities is formulated under eight main programme groups, including housing, water services, waste management, etc. In 2007, total expenditure by local authorities amounted to some €10 billion. Capital expenditure is financed largely by State grants with the balance...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The most recent projections for the public finances were set out at Budget time when an Exchequer deficit of €4,866 million was projected for this year. At this time an economic growth rate of 3.0 per cent in GDP terms was forecast for 2008. A number of specific risks to that forecast were highlighted and these are now materialising. While my Department has not published new forecasts, I...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am aware of the recent pressure on the Live Register. The Government is closely monitoring the emerging position. The 2008 expenditure allocation for the Exchequer social welfare Jobseekers Allowance scheme is almost €1,020 million. However, Jobseekers Allowance is only one of a number of demand led schemes that are funded from the Vote of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: While there are a number of challenges facing the economy, the fundamentals are still good. For instance, we have one of the lowest levels of public debt in the euro area, our markets are flexible allowing us to respond efficiently to adverse developments, we have a dynamic and well educated labour force, we have a pro-business outward looking society and the tax burden on both labour and...